St Herbert’s Island

St Herberts Island, which is approximately four to five acres and well covered with wood, is situated near the centre of Derwent Water and is the largest island on the lake.

The island was named after St Herbert, who was a disciple of St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, and who chose this island around the middle of the 7th century as his lonely home to ensure that nothing would distract him from unceasing mortification and prayer.

He was referred to as “the hermit of Derwentwater”. Apparently St Herbert died on the same day as St Cuthbert which was in the year 688, and since then St Herbert’s Island became a place of pilgrimage.

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